Upon Further Review: Offense vs Toledo

Ortmann(-2) whiffs embarrassingly on the DT, and he's sitting unblocked in the hole.

M38

2

12

Shotgun 2-back

Base 4-3

Run

Zone read stretch

McGuffie

0

I don't understand the blocking on this one: the playside DE is left totally unblocked as Dorrestein heads to the second level. Minor runs by him and McGuffie's again dealing with a defender in the backfield.

M38

3

12

Shotgun trips

Base 4-3

Pass

Cross

Koger

Inc

Threet checks down to a crossing route that's going to gain three yards max; Koger drops it. (CA, 3, protection 1/2, Schilling -1). Threet was getting pressure-ish stuff from both DEs and had to get rid of it.

Drive Notes: Punt, 0-0, 13 min 1st Q.

Ln

Dn

Ds

O Form

D Form

Type

Play

Player

Yards

O33

1

10

I-Form 3-wide

Base 4-3

Run

Iso

McGuffie

3

Decently blocked with Molk and Moosman doubling a DT to his knees and Moundros burying the MLB; the WLB does a good job of fending off Molk, peeling from the double, and fighting to McGuffie's path.

O30

2

7

Shotgun 2-back

Base 4-3

Run

Zone read sweep

McGuffie

10

Yeesh: Michigan gets away with an obvious hold as Ortmann(-1) literally tackles his guy from behind. Had no material effect on the play, though, as Schiling(+1) got a good, sustained block on the DE and Moundros(+1) popped the OLB, providing McGuffie a crease. He jukes a defender and gets to the corner for first down yardage.

O20

1

10

Shotgun 2-back

Base 4-3

Run

Zone read dive

McGuffie

6

Minor actually in an h-back position; he shoots upfield as a lead blocker on this play. Moosman(-1) is immediately shucked by the DT, forcing McGuffie to cut back, which works pretty well as Ortmann and Molk(+1 each) have doubled and driven back the other DT. There's an unblocked linebacker back there but it's still positive yardage.

O14

2

4

I-Form 3-wide

Base 4-3

Run

Iso

McGuffie

3

Minor still in; now he lines up at FB. Well-blocked play sees Molk and Moosman(+1) effectively single-block Toledo DT, creasing the line right where the play is going. Minor(-1) whiffs his block and Rockets converge in the hole.

O11

3

1

I-Form twins

Base 4-3

Run

Pitch sweep

Grady

6

Michigan catches the playside DT slanting in and can single block him with Molk, which leaves a gaping hole between him and the playside DT, manhandled by Schilling(+1). Two guys whiff blocks on the MLB, though, and Grady meets him a few yards downfield. This was in Picture Pages earlier today.

O5

1

G

Ace twins

Base 4-3

Run

Dive

McGuffie

0

Carson Butler (wooooo!) completely whiffs on the OLB lined up over him; he and and unblocked backside player converge to meet McGuffie in the backfield.

O5

2

G

Shotgun big

Base 4-3

Pass

Cross

Koger

Int

Again, “big” in this case means a running back with Moundros in the backfield and a TE with two WRs. These guys are covered—once too many times to the well for us on this play near the goal line—and Three throws it to Koger, who's undercut. 100 yards later, well... you know. (BR(!!!), 0, protection N/A)

Drive Notes: Defensive touchdown, 0-7, 6 min 1st Q.

Ln

Dn

Ds

O Form

D Form

Type

Play

Player

Yards

M49

1

10

Shotgun 3-wide

Base 4-3

Run

Zone read veer

McGuffie

4

A reader points out that the play Michigan's run a few times where McGuffie's intended hole is between the unblocked backside DE and the tackle to the backside of the play—think Minor TD against UW—is more properly termed a veer. (This was also featured in Picture Pages.) This is that play. The timing is off on this one or Threet should keep it or something and the DE closes it down after a few yards.

O47

2

6

Shotgun empty

Base 4-3

Pass

Bubble screen

Clemons

5

A little behind Clemons, forcing him to turn back and maybe delay his progress by a split second. This gets a linebacker in on him just enough for a diving tackle attempt at the LOS. Clemons steps through it, starts stumbling, and manages to fall forwards for a decent gain. (CA-, 3, screen)

O42

3

1

Shotgun 2-TE

Base 4-3

Pass

Long handoff

Mathews

3

Man, Toledo is playing Stonum in the parking lot on this one and a long handoff is eight easy. Instead they... throw a long handoff to Mathews, whose guy is 4 yards closer to the LOS. Eh, weird. Mathews manages to squirt forward for the first. (CA, 3, screen)

O39

1

10

Shotgun 2-back

Base 4-3

Run

Zone read stretch

McGuffie

3

Pretty good crease for McGuffie here but the MLB dodges a downfield blocker I think is Molk—low def video this week—and takes on Minor(-1) effectively. Minor is stood up and when McGuffie cuts back, seeing a good cut from Schilling(+1) on the backside, the linebacker makes a diving grab for his legs, latching on.

O36

2

7

I-Form 3-wide

Base 4-3

Run

Pitch sweep

McGuffie

-3

Their rock, our scissors on this play as they're blitzing a safety and LB to the side of the play. Koger can't get his block on the LB and the blitzing safety is heading right up into McGuffie. McGuffie cuts past him but now he's headed upfield into two unblocked guys.

O39

3

10

Shotgun 4-wide

Base 4-3

Pass

Seam

Koger

Int

Wildly overthrown and nearly intercepted. (IN, 0, protection 2/2)

Drive Notes: Punt, 0-7, 3 min 1st Q.

Ln

Dn

Ds

O Form

D Form

Type

Play

Player

Yards

M45

1

10

Shotgun trips

Base 4-3

Pass

Flare screen

McGuffie

9

Wooo! Watch Stonum(+1) clock the OLB here; that is what I am talking about. That opens up tons of room for McGuffie; Schilling attempts to cut the CB downfield but whiffs. McGuffie runs up to him, where tackling happens. (CA, 3, screen)

O46

2

1

I-Form 3-wide

Base 4-3

Run

FB Dive

Moundros

4

Good enough block from Moosman, one of those tough reach blocks where you're trying to harass a guy lined up playside of you. The DL fends it off eventually and hits Moundros but his momentum plows forward for decent yardage.

O42

1

10

Shotgun 2-back

Base 4-3

Pass

PA Cross

Clemons

15

Triple option fake; Threet backs out and sets up to pass. This gets him plenty of time for Clemons to drag open. Threet's throw is iffy, pulling Clemons upfield and back into a defender, or he can make 5-10 more yards after the catch here. (CA-, 3, protection 2/2)

1

10

Shotgun 4-wide

Base 4-3

Pass

Seam

Minor

27

Touchdown. Someone must have seen something in the Toledo alignment because Michigan resets with Minor moving from the backfield into the slot. Threet hits Minor in stride as he clears the linebackers; Minor's into the endzone before the safeties can get over. (DO, 2, protection 2/2) They review it and eventually decide that Minor didn't fumble the ball before he crossed the plane, but add this to the Reasons Minor Does Not Get A Lot of Carries, as without the endzone this is a fumble.

Drive Notes: Touchdown, 7-7, EO1Q.

Ln

Dn

Ds

O Form

D Form

Type

Play

Player

Yards

M46

1

10

Shotgun 3-wide

Base 4-3

Run

Zone read dive

McGuffie

8

Backside DE gets blocked this time; Ortmann gets driven back a bit by the DT but takes him to the ground; no call. McGuffie bounces outside Ortmann's block, putting a move on the WLB to turn four in to eight or so.

O46

2

2

I-Form twins

Base 4-3

Run

Iso

Grady

1

A comically bad read from Grady(-1), as he cuts directly into Ortmann(+1), who had pancaked his guy at the LOS, instead of the gaping hole next to Ortmann. Good block from Molk as well.

O45

3

1

I-Form twins

Base 4-3

Run

Iso

McGuffie

1

Grady gets yoinked after the comically bad read, but McGuffie is the wrong back for this task. Molk(-1) whiffs on the MLB, who meets McGuffie an inch or so from the first down line... and that's as far as they go. 1) Haven't seen an M linebacker do this all year, 2) Grady probably falls forward for the first here if he doesn't start running towards the wrong endzone.

O44

4

In

I-Form twins

Base 4-3

Run

Off tackle

McGuffie

In

Well blocked enough here, as there's a major crease between Ortmann and Dorrestein with the DT slanting inside, but Moundros(-1) ignores the unblocked MLB scraping over and decides to take on the safety. The MLB tackles; McGuffie barely gets it.

O44

1

10

Shotgun 3-wide

Base 4-3

Pass

Scramble

Threet

13 + 15(pen)

Toledo sends two guys to one side of the field on a blitz along with three linemen; good pickup from Shaw(+1) and good for Threet to step up past the blitzers. He can't find anyone downfield but there's a major running lane; he takes it. (TA, 0, protection 2/2) Horsecollar tackle called on Toledo, which may have been the correct call but that wasn't dangerous at all... I hate this rule.

O16

1

10

Shotgun 3-wide

Base 4-3

Run

Zone read veer

Shaw

5

Ortmann(+1) downblocks on the DT, blowing him inside; the DE, held outside by the zone read fake, crashes in a little late and by that time Shaw is already motoring to the LOS.

O11

2

5

Shotgun 2-back

Base 4-3

Run

Zone read stretch

McGuffie

1

Extremely poor read from McGuffie(-1) on this as he's got a huge cutback lane behind Molk and Ortmann. He cuts up he's near a first down at least. Instead he heads to the sideline and gets strung out.

O10

3

4

Shotgun 2-back

Base 4-3

Run

Zone read dive

McGuffie

1

Grady as an H-back; same play we ran earlier with Minor in Grady's position. Grady shoots up into the hole, blocking a linebacker, and McGuffie(-1) makes another very poor read, cutting to the left, away from the angle of Grady's block and into an unblocked linebacker. Rodriguez gives it to Grady after the play, but McGuffie had huge lanes if he would just take them.

Drive Notes: FG(28), 10-7, 11 min 2nd Q. A side note: it's kind of amazing how consistently wrong the color guy is. A lot of guys will say things that are irrelevant; this guy is saying things that are like 100% wrong whenever he expresses an opinion.

Ln

Dn

Ds

O Form

D Form

Type

Play

Player

Yards

M20

1

10

Shotgun 4-wide

Base 4-3

Pass

Bubble screen

Clemons

-2

Clemons might be lined up too far inside here because he's barely outside the Toledo LB; said LB reads the play and gets out on Clemons just as he catches the ball. Babb, on the outside, ended up not blocking anyone. (CA, 3, screen)

M18

2

12

Shotgun trips

Base 4-3

Run

QB draw

Threet

2

A defensive end slanting into the play area makes things difficult; McGuffie is caught up in the traffic and thus can't get out to block anyone. Threet is converged upon.

M20

3

10

Shotgun 4-wide

Base 4-3

Pass

Screen

McGuffie

-2

Ortmann(-1) just sort of falls down in the general area of a linebacker; this is not blocking him. Threet's throw, meanwhile, is upfield, forcing a difficult catch from McGuffie and stalling his momentum. The play's timing is destroyed. (IN, 2, screen)

Drive Notes: Punt, 10-7, 3 min 2nd Q.

Ln

Dn

Ds

O Form

D Form

Type

Play

Player

Yards

M18

1

10

Shotgun 2-back

Base 4-3

Run

Zone read stretch

McGuffie

9

Schilling(+1) driven back at first but finds a base and gets the DE moving backwards as McGuffie reaches him, allowing McGuffie the corner. Good downfield block by Moosman(+1) has occupied the SLB, and Moundros chips another player, providing a lane and nearly a first down.

M27

2

1

I-Form 3-wide

Base 4-3

Run

Iso

McGuffie

11

Right up the gut; Moosman and Molk double the playside DT and create a large crease between he and the DE; Moundros cuts the LB to that side to the ground.

M38

1

10

I-Form 3-wide

Base 4-3

Pass

Wheel

Moundros

Inc

Oh, he has him wide open for 20 yards at least plus whatever YAC he can rack up; overthrown. (IN, 0, protection 2/2)

M38

2

10

Shotgun 4-wide

Base 4-3

Run

Zone read stretch

McGuffie

21 (Pen -10)

Schilling(-1) lets his guy upfield in a shot and drags him to the ground, drawing a legit holding flag. The opening provided is a large one that McGuffie exploits for around 20; all for naught.

M28

2

20

Shotgun trips

Base 4-3

Run

Zone read stretch

McGuffie

0

And we're just going to the locker room now.

Drive Notes: End of half, 10-7. My copy of the tape does not contain Michigan's first drive of the second half.

Ln

Dn

Ds

O Form

D Form

Type

Play

Player

Yards

M7

1

10

Shotgun 3-wide

Base 4-3

Run

Zone read veer

McGuffie

8

Sheridan holds the DE outside just a fraction longer than Threet did earlier in the game, springing McGuffie into the second level as Schilling(+1) crushes the LB.

M15

2

2

Shotgun 2-back

Base 4-3

Run

Zone read dive

McGuffie

17

Excellent double from Molk and Moosman on one DE and a well-executed scoop by Ortmann(+2) and Dorrestein on the other side; Ortmann peels off and seals the MLB; the other LB has been sucked outside, expecting the stretch. McGuffie zips into the secondary.

M32

1

10

???

???

Run

???

McGuffie

3 (Pen-10)

Miss most of this play for a replay of the previous one. Ortmann(-1) gets called for holding.

M22

1

20

Shotgun 2-back

Base 4-3

Run

Triple option dive

Shaw

3

The formation with both RBs to one side of the QB; we have yet to run anything other than a triple option out of this, sure enough: triple option. Decent push up the middle, then Shaw is lost in a wad of bodies. They aren't running any keepers in this game, are they?

M25

2

17

Shotgun trips

Base 4-3

Pass

Hitch

Clemons

Int

A simple seven-yard hitch is thrown hard and to the outside—inaccurate. Clemons reaches for it but can only bat in in the air; intercepted. (IN, 2, protection 1/1.) Replay shows this was catchable-ish.

Drive Notes: Interception, 10-10, 14 min 4th Q.

Ln

Dn

Ds

O Form

D Form

Type

Play

Player

Yards

M25

1

10

Shotgun 2-back

Base 4-3

Run

Zone read dive

McGuffie

3

Miscommunication of some sort between Molk and Moosman(-1 each) leaves a DT unblocked. Pretty good push from the left side of the line gives McGuffie a few before he's hurled to the ground.

M28

2

7

Shotgun 2-back

Base 4-3

Pass

Improv

Stonum

Inc

Moundros as an H-back. Michigan runs the backside release thing with Moundros shooting back, only this time he's blocking the LB out on him, not releasing. Clemons runs a short out, which is covered; Sheridan scrambles up, then decides to toss one to Stonum, who's sort of open near the sticks. Stonum flat drops it. (CA, 3, protection 1/1)

M28

3

7

Shotgun empty

Base 4-3

Pass

Hitch

McGuffie

2

Toledo sends six against five blockers; the OL picks up the five they can. Sheridan sees the pressure coming and dumps it off to McGuffie, who is immediately tackled. (CA, 3, protection 2/'2)

Drive Notes: Punt, 10-13, 10 min 4th Q.

Ln

Dn

Ds

O Form

D Form

Type

Play

Player

Yards

M13

1

10

Shotgun trips

Base 4-3

Pass

Flare screen

McGuffie

5

Mathews(-1) completely whiffs on a linebacker, forcing Moosman to attempt to block him from an awkward angle; also Sheridan's loopy little screen is ill-timed, allowing DL to peel back and tackle from behind as McGuffie reaches the mess. (CA-, 3, screen)

Playside DT shoots upfield, getting passed off to Molk. Molk doesn't really get a block but that's because the DT has decided he should go around him, removing himself from the play. Schilling does a good job on the DE; Molk gets a downfield block on the SLB, and Sheridan picks up a nice gain.

M39

2

1

Shotgun 2-back

Base 4-3

Run

Zone read dive

McGuffie

2

Good drive block from Dorrestein and a double does in the other DT; McGuffie up into the hole for the first.

M41

1

10

Shotgun 2-back

Base 4-3

Pass

PA Hitch

Mathews

Inc (Pen+10)

Sheridan hits Mathews on this deep hitch for first down yardage, but his noodly arm means Mathews has already gotten hit by the time the ball gets there. That's incomplete; it is also a flag. (CA-, N/A, protection 2/2) I dunno... this looks like a good play, and thus a bad call.

O49

1

10

Shotgun 2-back

Base 4-3

Run

Zone read stretch

McGuffie

5

Decent, but not great blocks from the line; McGuffie doesn't get that hole between the tackle and the guard/C double on the DT that he wants and so cuts it back behind one DT. Dorrestein is trying to get out on a LB but has no angle and that guy comes in to tackle.

O44

2

5

Shotgun empty

Base 4-3

Pass

Throwback screen

Mathews

-3

This does not fool the WLB in any way whatsoever, and McGuffie runs by him to get a block downfield on the corner. I think that's a -1 for McGuffie; that guy has to get blocked. (CA, 3, screen)

O47

3

8

Shotgun trips

Base 4-3

Pass

Cross

Clemons

Int

Sheridan does a good job of finding a guy, though he sort of panics and looks like he's headed towards the LOS before he pulls out and chucks it. The pass his pretty high, but hits Clemons in the hands, deflecting up and coming down in the hands of a safety. (CA-, 2, protection 2/2)

Drive Notes: Interception, 10-13, 3 min 3rd Q. Both interceptions are off Clemons' hands: this is probably why he was buried on the depth chart until both of our slot guys got exploded.

Ln

Dn

Ds

O Form

D Form

Type

Play

Player

Yards

M33

1

10

Shotgun 3-wide

Base 4-3

Pass

Hitch

Mathews

10

Good protection; good throw, and he gets OOB. (CA+, 3, protection 2/2)

M43

1

10

Shotgun 3-wide

Base 4-3

Pass

Flag

Clemons

Inc

I don't actually think this is inaccurate despite the fact it lands a couple yards past Clemons; Clemons got bumped off his route and redirected by the corner. (CA, 0, protection 2/2)

M43

2

10

Shotgun 3-wide

3-3-5 Nickel

Pass

Hitch

Mathews

5

This one is a really short hitch that gets chopped down in bounds. Not sure if I agree with this call, but it's not like they've got a panoply of choices here. (CA, 3, protection 1/1)

M48

3

5

Shotgun 3-wide

Base 4-3

Pass

Out

Mathews

Inc

Well wide. (IN, 0, protection 2/2)

M48

4

5

Shotgun empty

Base 4-3

Pass

Hitch

Mathews

5

This right at the sticks, man, and if this spot is an inch the wrong way it's game over man. (CA, 3, protection 1/1). Toledo now calls a timeout THEY DON'T HAVE. And is NOT PENALIZED.

O47

1

10

Shotgun empty

Base 4-3

Pass

Seam

McGuffie

29

This is about as well as Sheridan can throw this. Looping ball hangs in the air seemingly forever but hits McGuffie between the numbers; he reels it in and a safety blows him up. (DO, 2, protection 2/2)

O18

1

10

Shotgun 4-wide

Base 4-3

Run

Zone read stretch

Shaw

9

Linebackers are nowhere near the LOS as they're expecting pass and Molk(+1) ends up single blocking and pancaking his defender; other blocks are good, too, and Shaw is met by a safety at aroudn the ten.

On the missed drive: Michigan got the ball on their own 23 after a kickoff, rushed four times for 29 yards, getting a first and ten from the Toledo 48. From that point: Shaw rushed for two yards, Sheridan threw incomplete, and Sheridan was sacked, then Michigan got a fifteen-yard penalty on top of that. On fourth and 31 from the 31, Mesko had a 66 yard punt to the Toledo 3.

So… probably an IN or TA on the first throw plus an PR or TA on the second with possible minuses on the protection; charting isn't affected much.

That looks pretty good but many of the CAs were little hitches and stuff like that; Sheridan throwing ten or more yards downfield was an adventure. Also, an incompletion and a sack from Michigan's first drive of the second half are not captured. Also also, both of his interceptions were poorly thrown balls Clemons could not reel in. The chart does not capture how limited the offense is when he's chuckin' and hopin'.

Speaking of?

Yes, Receiverchart:

(remember: 0 is uncatchable, 1 is a circus catch, 2 is a somewhat difficult one, and 3 is a routine one)

This Game

Totals

Player

0

1

2

3

0

1

2

3

Clemons

1

-

0/2

4/4

3

-

0/2

6/6

Stonum

-

-

-

1/1

4

0/3

3/3

3/3

Mathews

1

-

-

3/3

6

2/6

4/6

12/13

Hemingway

-

-

-

-

1

0/2

2/2

-

Odoms

-

-

-

-

9

0/1

3/4

19/21

Babb

-

-

-

-

-

0/1

1/1

1/1

Savoy

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

1/2

Butler

-

-

-

-

2

1/1

0/1

2/2

Koger

2

-

-

0/1

2

0/1

1/1

1/2

McGuffie

-

-

2/2

4/4

3

-

2/2

15/15

Brown

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

3/3

Shaw

-

-

-

-

-

-

-

4/4

Minor

-

-

1/1

-

2

0/1

1/2

3/3

Moundros

-

-

-

1/1

2

-

-

1/1

Not much to go around, really, with the 0/2 in Clemons' 2 category the biggest issues. It's hard to blame Clemons for either, really, but I think Avant makes those catches. Or Mathews, actually.

And while we're at it, PROTECTION METRIC: 34/35, Schilling –1.

Hey, that's pretty good, at least, though that number is very low for a full game, indicating Michigan didn't take many chances on long routes. But you knew that already.

Isn't the run-pass distribution on first down downright Debordian?

Yeah, but think about the context, man.

The context?

This year's Michigan team is approaching the problem of what to call on first down from an entirely different perspective than Michigan teams of yore. Michigan of yore would call a blizzard of first down runs against any team they thought they were considerably better than, which was almost everyone, in an attempt to shorten the game or soften them up or prevent big bad events from happening or whatever. This led to a lot of uncomfortably close victories and what must be the country's most bizarre breakdown of close fourth quarter games: as Vijay of IBFC wrote in HTTV 2007, under Carr Michigan was actually more likely to win a game if they had a small deficit entering the fourth quarter than a small lead.

!!!

This year's Michigan team has no illusions it's better than anyone—or it least it shouldn't any more—and just seems convinced that their only chance is to keep away from huge errors and try to get lucky in the fourth. I kind of agree with them on that.

But still…

But still?

Yeah, it has been a long-held tenet of this blog that you should have a close to equitable split between run and pass on first down unless you do one thing much better than the other and Michigan does not. I mean, you're going three-and-out so much when you run on first down that you might as well try to get some big chunks from the passing game.

You've got another but, don't you?

Yes. I'm nearly 100% sure that Threet was hurt going into the game. Notice something in the first half playcalling? Zero QB keepers, and that passing chart above has four screens in it. The rest of it is 3 good to 5 bad, a horrible ratio, and some of those passes were impossibly off target.

Then Sheridan comes in at halftime despite Threet not taking a single hit. Michigan then runs a couple of these QB sweep/off tackle sorts of plays to good effect; these were clearly part of the gameplan. So: protect QB at all costs in first half and remove him for no apparent reason at halftime. This is not someone 100% going into the game.

I don't think the hypothetically stupid playcalling was by choice. I think they had a badly damaged Threet and tried to get away with it, found that they couldn't, and then went with Sheridan.

Heroes?

Yeesh. I though Schilling had a good day blocking, and McGuffie did pick up 105 rushing yards and that last-second seam.

Goats?

Blood damn fate for injuring Threet; Ortmann had a tough day in the run game. Oh, and Carson Butler got on the field for one play and completely whiffed his block. I loled.

What does it mean for the future?

Well, we're *#$&ed without a healthy Threet. Also, the evidence continues to mount that this is just going to be vicious painfestival offense for the rest of the year.

Comment viewing options

I disagree entirely with the UFR. This offense would not be so terrible and incoherent if they just lined up in Iformation and gained the same amount of yards. Because when you're in the Iformation, you're not a pussy - and opponents respect that. And that's when you for the jugular - Iformation style. Who cares if we can't block? Iformation. Championship. Lock it up. Spreads for pussies.

Let him play, block people and give him the occassional carry (id like to see Moundros get the occassional carry or teo as well). Perhaps the blocking can get him used to contact and he wont fumble as much when he does carry it?!?!?!

At least, I hope that happens.....lol......of course, now he's injured so this argument can finally be put on the sideline.

I'm glad you saw the same thing.....the problem is figuring out how the have a lead blocking back in the spread.....I like some of the formation changes, like the H Back look either pulling a la a counter or just shooting straight off from that spot.

With sub par O-Line play and a very non traditional running QB like Threet, the team needs that extra blocker right now.

One other thing I have noted is that the running plays where we just have back in the lineup go nowhere, but those with two backs, even if the second is not lead blocking, seem to go forward.

I guess with just one back the D can focus on their run keys on him and since nobody is really blocking up front, the whole thing gets blown up.

I was only able to listen to the radio broadcast and Beckman/Brandstatter kept talking about how if Threet just kept it next time he had an easy 5-10 yards because of the defense collapsing down on our RBs. An injured Threet would certainly explain that.

there was a play in the 2nd qtr where Threet, intentially or not, ends up as a LEAD BLOCKER for McGuffie. He does get hit on this play, perhaps a helmet on the elbow? Not sure.

On a totally unrelated note: how about when, in all seriousness, Rosenberg refers to Mallett as "one of the most gifted passers in the program's history." That line right there deserves a bitch slap, or at the very least the "unintentional" spill of the Big Gulp onto his lap.

You must be joking. I was pissed when Mallett transferred, because I figured it'd be hard to find anyone more prone to Yakety-Sax moments. His departure only increased the chances of competence at QB for you guys.

Anyone who watched a minute of Michigan football last year should have known that. How did Rosenberg screw that up?

was actually pretty good during the football game vs. Toledo - like 4.1 or 4.2 yards per carry.

As Keith Jackson used to say: " You pick up 3.5 yards per carry, you gonna win the football game".

As much as Michigan fans have falled in love with the pass over the years (good reasons for this), and as much as Michigan (with Threet) should actually throw on 1st down for a change, seems to me Michigan should just run it. And run it again. Bring in Moundros and Helmuth and let's start putting hats on people. RR is afraid of 9 men in the box. Bo and Woody just grinned at such formations.

Let's face it, having Threet or Sheridan throwing the football is either way off target or an INT.

on their 2nd offensive series of the 2nd Qtr, so that might cast some doubt on your theory of Threet being injured from the get-go?

I will say this, though: any theory about Threet being injured is preferable to my initial thought that RR might actually be stupid enough to bench a healthy Threet for Sheridan.

But, you know, for a guy with an elbow injured so severely that he cannot throw a football he sure wasn't showing any signs of injury on the sidelines. I'm assuming it's either a contusion or a mild sprain? Then where is the big honkin' ice pack that should've been affixed to that kid's elbow? And Threet sure was sending in all kinds of hand/arm signals without any signs of pain or injury, too. Ah, hell, I don't know.